Internal-combustion pump.



V. GRIFFITH.

INTERNAL COMBUSTION PUMP. APPuc/Tlou FILED JAN.22.19:7.

Patented sept. 25, 1917.

-S H EET I 2 SHEETS v. GRIFFITH. b INTERNAL COMBUSTION PUMP. APPLICATION FILED JAN. 22 1917- 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2- Patented Sept. 25, 1917.

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VICTOR GRIFFITH, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

INTERNAL-COMBUSTION PUMP.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 25, 1917.

Application filed January 22, 1917. Serial No. 143,553.

To all whom t may concem:

Be it known that I, VICTOR GRIFFITH, a citizen of the United States, residing at San Francisco, in the county of SanFrancisco and State of California, have invented new and useful Improvements in Internal-Combustion Pumps, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to improve ments in means for the utilization of heat energy as applied, through its expansive force, in motors, air-compressors and hydraulics.

Most attempts to utilize heat energy in devices of the type directing the explosive energy against liquid pistons have proven abortive through lack of provisions for the exhaust of the products of combustion and for the maintenance of a constant volume for both liquid piston and combustible charge in the combined combustion and displacement chamber.

One object of the invention is to provide means, in a device of the type named, for the positive scavenging of the products of combustion and for the maintenance of constant volume for liquid pistons and combustible charges, so that there may be no encroachment of the one upon the allotted space of the other.

A second obj ect of the invention is to provide a device having provisions for the precompression of the combustible charge before its admittance to the combustion chamber, rather than after, thus permitting the utilization of the heavier fuel oils and their' combustion at constant pressures.

A third object of the invention is to provide for the purpose named, a device having displacement chambers equal in number to those ofthe cycles or steps necessary in its operation, these chambers functioning, as to a single cycle or step, in rotation, and yet so coordinated that the completion of the full cycle by the group of chambers completes also a full cycle for a particular one of the units comprising the group.

In the accompanying drawing, Figure 1 is a side view, partly in longitudinal vertical section ofmy improved internal combustion pump; Fig. 2 is a similar view, parts being shown in a position different from that in Fig. l; Fig. 3 is an enlarged cross-section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

Referring to the drawing, 1 indicates a tank or other container of water which is to be pumped, from which leads a pipe 2 controlled by a valve 3 and connected with four branch pipes 4, each provided with a nonreturn valve 5, and leading to a valve chamber 6, connected with a displacement chamber 7 through an opening 8 controlled by a vvalve 9 having a valve stem 10 slidable in bearings respectively in a spider 11 extending across said opening 8 and in a casting l2 at the upper end of said displacement chamber. In "these four displacement chambers water is forced down in succession by the combustion of gas in a combustion chamber 13 forming an upper extension of the displacement chamber and through a conduit lf-Ll leading past a check valve 15 and into a pipe 16 closed at one end and open at the other, the open end being bent upwardly and extending into the lower end vof a valve chamber 17. The water discharged along said pipe 16 by the pressure in each displacement chamber 7 emerges from said open end of the pipe 16, and forces upwardly a slide valve 18 slidable in the valve chamber 17 and having a transverse web 2O secured by nuts 21 to the lower end of a valve stem 22 which slides through a bearing inthe upper end of the valve casing 19 and is attached to the lower end of a differential piston 23. IVhen said valve 18 has been pressed upward a sufficient distance, water escapes from the lower portion of said valve chamber into a pipe 24, controlled by a valve 25, and opening upwardly past a non-return valve 26 into a compression chamber 27. From the lower portion of said compression chamber a discharge pipe 28 leads upwardly and is 'controlled by a valve 29. Said compression chamber communicates by a conduit 30 with the upper portion of the valve chamber 17 so that said upper portion is always under the same pressure as that in the compression chamber 27.

By reason of the above-described construction, with each explosion in any one of the four combustion chambers 13, the valve 18 is raised to raise the dierential piston, and between the successive explosions the valve 18 descends again under the combined pressure in the valve chamber and the pressure of a spring 31 coiled around the stem 22 and compressed between the upper end of the valve casing and the web 20.

In order to permit the differenti-,al piston to return to its lower-most position, which would be impossible otherwise on account of the water in the lower end of the valve chamber 17 and in the pipe 16, there is provided an air chamber 32 communicating at the bottom by a pipe 33 with the open end of the pipe 16. There is also provided in this chamber a spring-controlled inlet Valve 34, through which, when the pressure becomes less than atmospheric, air .will be admitted by reason of the injection eH-ect of the water flowing at high velocity in 'the open end of the pipe 16 around the open end of the pipe 33.

The larger end of the differential piston on its downward strokev draws in air through a check valve 35 and eXpels it through a pipe 36 having therein a check valve 37, a safety valve 38, a gage 39 and discharging into a compressed air cylinder .40. A conduit 4l, controlled by a valve 42,

leads from said compressed air cylinder and has a contracted nozzle 43 discharging into a conduit 44. F rom a contracted portion 45 of said conduit 41 leads a pipe 46, having therein a controlling valve 47, and dis-.

charging into the upper portion of al gasolene or other fluid fuel chamber 48. From the lower portion of said chamber leads aL pipe 49, having therein a controlling valve 51 and discharging into the center of said contracted nozzle. By means of the velocity of said compresser air issuing from said compressed air chamber and surrounding the discharge end of the pipe 49, and also by reason of the pressure of said air upon the surface of the gasolene in the chamber 4S, gasolene vapor is forced out of said open end of the pipe49, and is thoroughly mixed with the air emerging from said nozzle, and is conducted by a conduit 52 to. a chamber 53, from which branch conduits 54 lead to valve casings 55 at the heads of the respective combustion chambers in which are ro-` tary valves 56. Said valves are attached at oney en d to crank arms 57, each connected to one end of'a link 58, the other ends of said links being connected to U-cranksl 59 on a shaft 60 rotating, in bearings 61. Said shaft is rotated by means of a` rack 62, carried by the valve stem 22 and engaging a gear wheel 63 loose on said Shaft, 60 and carrying a pawl 64 which engages a pinion 65 fast on said shaft 60. The dimensions of the rack and gear wheel are such that', with each reciprocation of the rackthe gear wheel 63 and shaft 60 are rotated one-quarter of a revolution. By this meansx all ofy said valves are intermittently rotated through one-quarter of a revolution with each complete reciprocation of the valve stem 22 and each branchconduit 54 is inl pressure in the pipe 1,6,I the check valve15 is. closed, and, at the same time,l by means of a canr67 upon the shaft 60y a valve 6,8,

is opened', permitting the gases to @scape by a branch conduit 69 intoa conduit 70, whichA is inclosed within the chamber 5,3, ay conduitY 71 leading from said conduit 70through the wall of said chamber into the atmosphere.

A float 7,2 is guided by the; valve stem 10 and abuts inl its upper position against. aA stop 73 on said stem,y and descendswith the water in the displacement chamber until it abuts against a stop 74 on the lower prortion of said valve. stem. Then theI farther descent of said float has. the effectof opening the valve 9, thereby admitting water from the source of supply. Then water rises inthe displacement chamber,r thereby forcing out they burnt gases therefroiimI which scavenging action is assistedhy air admitted through a check valve 75 into a cylinder 7,6, surrounding the smaller end of the diiferential piston 23` upon the upward stroke of said piston, and, uponv the downwardstroke of the piston forced. out of said cylinder 76 into a pipe 77 having t-herein a check Valve 78, and thenceinto branch pipes 79, `each havingtherein a check valveBOand opening into the corresponding combustiony chamber'. By both of these means, the hot productsof combustion are forced outward from the combustionv chamber through the valve 63 and branch conduit 69 into the conduits 701- and 71, thereby heating the carbureted air in the chamber 53 surrounding saidl con,- duits The How of water into the displacement chamber is arrested when the ioat valve 72having abutted against the upper stop 73up0n the valve stem 10, then raises said valve stem soas to close the,f valve 1 9 to itsseat. Inthis way the volume of water,

admitted, into the displacement always the same for eacht cylinder.

I claim,:-

1. In an apparatus ofthe character, de-v Chamber is s the press-ure of, liquidin said cornlluonplpe, and controlling the communication betweent said.l commonx ber, a valve actuated by miope? pipe and the pressure chamber, a shaft actuated by said valve, and means, actuated by said shaft, for controlling the circuits through the spark plugs of the internal combustion engines. v

2. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination of a series of internal combustion chambers, liquid outlet pipes leading therefrom, a common pipe into which they discharge, a pressure chamber, a valve actuated by pressure of liquid in said common pipe, and controlling the communication between said common pipe and the pressure chamber, a shaft actuated by said valve, and means, actuated by said shaft, for controlling the admission of iuid fuel into said combustion chambers.

3. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination of a series of internal combustion chambers, liquid outlet pipes leading therefrom, a common pipe into which they discharge, a pressure chamthe pressure of the liquid in said common pipe, and controlling the communication between said common pipe and the pressure chamber, a shaft actuated by said valve, and means actuated by said shaft, for controlling the kexhaust from said internal combustion chambers.

4. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination of a series of internal combustion chambers, liquid outlet pipes leading therefrom, a common pipe into which they discharge, a pressure chamber, a valve actuated by the pressure of the liquid in said common pipe and controlling the communication between said common pipe and the pressure chamber and a piston, actuated by said valve, for forcing carbureted air into said cylinders` and for eX- hausting waste gases therefrom.

5. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination of a series of internal combustion chambers, liquid outlet pipes leading therefrom, a common pipe into which they discharge, a pressure chamber, a valve actuated by the pressure of liquid in Copies cf this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the said common pipe, and controlling the communication between said common pipe and the pressure chamber and a differential piston, actuated by said valve for forcing carbureted air into said cylinders and for eX- hausting waste gases therefrom.

6. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination of a series of internal combustion chambers, liquid outlet pipes leading therefrom, a common pipe into which they discharge, a pressure chamber, a valve actuated by the pressure of liquid in said common pipe and controlling the communication between said common pipe andthe pressure chamber, a piston, actuated by said valve, for forcing carbureted air into said cylinders and for exhausting waste gases therefrom, a relief chamber, and a pipe communicating with said common pipe and leading to said relief chamber.

7. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination of an internal combustion chamber, an inlet conduit for supplying liquid to the lower portion of said chamber, means for igniting combustible fluid fuel in the upper portion of said chamber, a valve for limiting the amount of water admitted to said internal combustion chamber through said inlet pipe, and a float operating by its buoyancy to close said valve.

8. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination of an internal combustion chamber, an inlet conduit for supplying liquid to the lower portion of said chamber, means for igniting combustible fluid fuel in the upper portion of said chamber, a valve for closing the communication between said internal combustion chamber and the inlet conduit, a vertically movable stem operatively connected to said valve, upper and lower stops thereon, and a float slidable on said stem between said stops and operating by its buoyancy to close said valve.

VICTOR GRIFFITH.

Commissioner of Eatenta.

Washington, D. C. 

